[Cosmo]

thanks for the directions and help! I’m sure the more I’m on here, the easier it will get but I appreciate all the helpful tips. 

Today I will not gamble. 

Im going to take just one day at a time and not think about the future. 

[Cosmo]

Thank you! I went on GamCare once. I will go back on GamCare and inquire about getting this set up for myself. I’ve been googling help for months and just recently found this website and GamCare. It’s frustrating that it appears to be difficult to find these sites for help. 

What is the trick (easiest way) to come back to this thread when responding? I get an email and can read your response but when I want to come back to respond it’s crazy trying to find it again. 

[Cosmo]

I’m so glad you responded. It took me a minute to figure out how to get back to read your response.  Still learning this site.

I would absolutely go to a counselor or therapist but I need direction. I have tried therapists but honestly they didnt help, probably because they didn’t specialize in gambling. How did you select your therapist? Please share anything that your contact  on Gamchat told you. 

Heres a bit of my background. I’m in the US, have been playing slots about 11 years. It has escalated and I have run out of my personal Resources digging myself out of debt over and over. I have depleted my 401, my retirement (cashed both in and had to pay taxes and penalties). I have sold assets that I need for income in retirement. I spend my monthly income within days of receipt. 

I went to GA meetings and was so excited but in less than a month, I felt discouraged because I didn’t feel anyone was there to help new folks, it felt depressing and seemed like they were only there to keep themselves clean and didn’t even seem happy about it. It wasnt encouraging to me at all. I stopped going. Then I went to a psychiatrist that had excellent review, such a disappointment, I then tried a therapist and she helped with some ideas of lifting my mood my no help on gambling. 

I finally confessed to my 24 yr old daughter (I was so afraid she would hate me, be so disappointed in me, etc) and she was so compassionat. We agreed she would monitor my location via GPS text on iPhone. I then confessed to my best friend the same day. Gave her all my credit cards. They both were working together to help me. I couldn’t believe how fortunate I was and cried till I fell asleep. 

Two weeks later, I have found a way around both of these barriers. I feel sick that I have gambled, a lot, and haven’t told them yet. 

How can it be this hard? I can’t even wrap my head around the grip it has on me. 

[Cosmo]

Hope, 

i am new on here. I read your reply that said you followed advice that helped you stop gambling. Please share what that advice was. I am trying so hard to get help, answers to this horrible addiction. 

I hope your still on here and reply. 

Thank you 

Cosmo

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